2007 Fall McCarty Grants
Arlington
Area Child Care, Happy Days Preschool
Arlington
Area Childcare offers an early care and education program
supplemented by the Arts Enrichment Program, for all enrolled
children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age.
We
contributed funds in support of a 32-week artist-in-residence
program with Alexandra Langstaff, local creative dance
and movement specialist. She is working in six classrooms
with all children ages 1 to 5 and will hold two professional
development sessions for the staff before the residency
begins with follow-up in the spring and one parent workshop.
Approximately eighty-two children, twenty teachers and
thirty to forty parents will participate in the residency.
“I
want to thank the Stratton Foundation for providing us
with a McCarty grant to support Alexandra Langstaff’s
32-week residency. She began her residency in Octoberin
the toddler and preschool classes, and will continue her
weekly visits until May 2008, working with all the children
enrolled at Happy Days. One staff development session
was held for seventeen staff before the residency began.”
Peggy Hanson, November 16, 2007
Peggy
Hanson, Arts/Curriculum Coordinator
Arlington Area Childcare
426 East Arlington Road
Arlington, VT 05250
802-375-6039
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Arlington Arts and Enrichment
Program
The
mission of the Arlington Arts & Enrichment Program
is to bring a wide variety of art and enrichment experiences
to the youth of the Arlington Area, and to enhance and
enrich children’s participation in and relationship
with art.
We
contributed funds to make it possible for the Arts and
Enrichment Program to host Otha Day, Drum Facilitator,
for a five-day dance residency that will provide enrichment
through music, dance, and drumming for grades K-5 at the
Fisher Elementary School in Arlington, VT. The project
will reach two hundred and seventy-five children, teachers,
parents, and members of the Arlington community.
“With
your generous contribution, we will build on prior success
and bring cultural drumming to the Arlington youth community.
This residence will be called “The Beat of Arlington”
where drumming will be integrated into the daily classroom
schedule for students from kindergarten to fifth grade.
Without your generous contribution, this residency would
not be possible.” Carol Farley, December 12,
2007
Carol
Farley, Coordinator, Arlington Arts & Enrichment Program
Arlington Arts and Enrichment Program
P.O. Box 221
Arlington, VT 05250
802-375-9665
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Bart
Ruggiere Adaptive Sports
The
purpose of the program is to enable individuals with cognitive
or physical disabilities the opportunity to enjoy sports,
especially alpine skiing with their families.
We
contributed funds to make the Diana Golden Level One Race
possible. This race will give individuals with disabilities
in the Windham and Bennington Counties the opportunity
to try their hand at an entry level alpine rade. It will
also enable the existing race team from the Brat Center
to gain financial resources for training and traveling.
Approximately twenty area youths and adults will have
the opportunity to participate that might not have otherwise
had their chance.
Joe
Hurley, Director
Bart Ruggiere Adaptive Sports
P.O. Box 2232
Manchester Center, VT 05255
802-824-5522
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Bennington
County Meals on Wheels
The
elderly and housebound require full-time meals delivered
daily, quality nutritious and creative meals are delivered
to those senior citizens and disabled residents in need.
We
made a grant so that the deliveries could continue and
to help make it possible to expand the program to Winhall,
Peru, Stratton Mountain, Manchester, Dorset, and Sunderland.
It is estimated that a eight hundred and forty people
will be served by the project each month (100 from Winhall,
Stratton Mountain, and Peru; 400 from Manchester; 50 from
Dorset; and 290 from Sunderland.)
Steven
Nichols, Executive Director
Bennington County Meals on Wheels
124 Pleasant Street
Bennington, VT 05250
802-362-3714
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Bennington Rutland
Opportunity Council
BROC
is the local community action agency serving Rutland and
Bennington Counties and providing a range of services
to increase self-sufficiency among our low-income clientele.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to stock emergency food
shelves. BROC serves over 8,000 households a year.
Elizabeth
Eddy, Community Services and Outreach Program Manager
Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council
60 Center Street
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-0878
http://www.broc.org
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Champion
Fire Company
Champion
Fire Company fights fires, responds to rescue calls and
hazardous materials incidents, and provides public fire
and safety education. The Stratton Foundation made a grant
to help the company purchase a large diameter hose 4”
booster valve to help supply water in long hose lays.
The Champion Fire Company serves residents in ninety towns
through its mutual aid response system.
"In
2007, we received two grants from the Stratton Foundation;
one that helped us purchase six streamlight personal flashlights
and two 2 1/2" gated outlets; the other grant enabled
us to purchase a large diameter line booster valve to
help in long hose lays. As unpaid volunteer firemen, we
appreciate the Stratton Foundation's dedication to help
others making our communities a better place to live."
Champion Fire Company
George Lang, Fire Chief
Champion Fire Company
P.O. Box 5
South Londonderry, VT 05155
802-824-3242
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Community
Food Cupboard
The
mission of the Community Food Cupboard is to provide healthful
groceries to low income families in the Northshire area.
We
provided a grant for the purchase of one hundred dozen
eggs for six months to provide families in need with a
fresh, versatile source of protein. Approximately 600
people will be served by this project.
“The
generous grant allowed us to provide eggs to families
in need. This program is helping to provide good nutrition
to families whose economic situations often force them
to make unhealthy food choices. Since our first award
in November 2006, the eggs we have purchased have reached
297 families, and the feedback we have received has been
overwhelmingly positive.” Martha Carey, January
2008
Martha
Carey, Administrator
Community Food Cupboard
P.O. Box 864
Manchester Center, VT 05255
802-362-0057
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Dorset
Players, Inc.
Dorset Players, Inc. a community theater organization,
is dedicated to fostering the arts in the Northshire community
and its surrounding towns by producing plays and conducting
theatrical and other entertainments for the benefit of
the community at large.
The
Stratton Foundation provided funds to help bring the Missoula
Children’s Theater Company to the playhouse and
area schools for a residency during the week of January
21st to 26th, 2008. Workshops were held at the Dorset
Elementary, Manchester Elementary Middle School, Maple
Street, Sunderland Elementary, Fisher Elementary, Flood
Brook Union, the Mountain School, and the Home School
Community. Sixty-two students were in the cast that had
a very full and fun day on Saturday, January 26th that
included a dress rehearsal and two productions, both of
which played to a packed house.
Maureen
Chaffee, Executive Producer
Dorset Players, Inc.
P.O. Box 521
Dorset, VT 05252
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Flood
Brook Student Activities Cooperative
The
FBSAC is a not-for-profit organization that raises funds
through fundraising events, donations, grants, and bequests
and uses them to support educational and cultural activities
and programs at the Flood Brook Union School that would
otherwise not be funded by taxes through the general school
budget.
Environmental
Learning for the Future (ELF) is an award winning environmental
education program taught by parents and community volunteers
that gives children in grades K-3 the opportunity to explore
nature in and around their home and school, teaching children
that science learning is not limited to textbooks and
far-away field trips. ELF serves approximately one hundred
and twenty children and twenty-five parent volunteers
in grades K-3 from the towns of Londonderry, Landgrove,
Peru and Weston.
Grant
Braddish and Colleen Bunker, Co-Chairs
Flood Brook Student Activities
P.O. Box 526
Londonderry, VT 05148
802-824-6906
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Grace
Cottage Foundation
Grace
Cottage Foundation raises funds for the Grace Cottage
Hospital – a twenty-four hour, nineteen-bed hospital
– located 20 minutes from Bondville, at the junction
of Rt. 30 and Rt. 35 in Townshend.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant that made it possible
for the hospital to acquire alternating pressure mattresses
for hospital patients requiring wound care or treatment
for pressure sores or skin ulcers. Alternating pressure
mattresses provide the most effective, practical method
of promoting healing. The hospital served 439 patients
in FY 2006.
“Thank
you so much for your thoughtful and generous grant. As
with all gifts, this grant will be used to support the
mission of Grace Cottage Hospital, which is to provide
the most personalized and professional patient care possible.”
Andrea Seaton, Executive Director
Mary
Gyori, Director of Development
Grace Cottage Foundation
P.O. Box 1
Townshend, VT 05353
802-365-9109
info@gracecottage.org
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Home
Away from Home
The mission is to provide an ideal early learning environment
for preschool students. The Stratton Foundation made a
grant to help acquire two commercial quad strollers for
the infant and toddler age groups. As a result, eight
infants or toddlers had greater opportunity to explore
the great outdoors with two early care education providers.
Deb
Wyman, Teaching Director
Home Away from Home
108 Equinox Terrace Road
Manchester, VT 05255
802-362-5823
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In-Sight – Photography
Project
In-sight’s purpose is to seek students that need
alternative learning situations and provide them with
photography classes regardless of their ability to pay.
The Stratton Foundation made a grant to make it possible
to teach photography classes during the winter and spring
of 2008 in conjunction with Leland & Gray’s
Help Empower Youth After-School Activity Program; a program
that targets students not otherwise engaged or connected
to the school beyond the traditional school day.
“I
know you have many choices when deciding what projects
to fund, and it means a great deal to have been selected.
We have seen first hand the benefits of providing a creative
outlet to youth away from school, and we are grateful
that your board believes in our mission.” Eric
Maxen, November 19, 2007
Press Release - Click on the link at the left to see a photo and read a recent press release.
Eric
Maxen, Program Director
In-Sight – Photography Project
45 Flat Street
Suite 1
Brattleboro, VT 05301
802-251-9960
tipp@sover.net
http://www.insight-photography.org
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Long
Trail School
Long Trail is initiating the Nepali Educator in Residence
Program to host a Nepalese teacher from the Hindu Vidyapeeth
School in Kathmandu, Nepal, for six weeks during the 2007-08
school year. This person’s expertise in Nepalese
culture, art, language, and eastern philosophy will be
shared with the LTS community and other area schools.
This program is an effort to build cultural awareness
and bridges of understanding between cultures of vastly
different worldviews.
“The
fact that the Stratton Foundation chooses to give back
to the schools in your community, speaks volumes about
your vision and commitment to area youth. Thank you for
all that you do to make the Northshire and its surrounding
towns such a dynamic place to raise our kids.”
John Suitor, Head of School
Jackie
Rahm, International Coordinator
Long Trail School
1045 Kirby Hollow Road
Dorset, VT 05251
802-867-57115
jrahm@longtrailschool.org
http://www.longtrailschool.org
Founded 1975
Manchester
Elementary-Middle School
Manchester Elementary-Middle School is Manchester’s
only public school. It serves approximately 475 students,
of all income and academic levels, in kindergarten through
eighth grades.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to help make it possible
for MEMS to bring an artist in residence program, featuring
Don Knaack, the well known “Junkman” artist
and musician, to the school. His program called “Help
Our Planet,” combines hands-on art creation with
environmental awareness. Students of all levels will work
with Don over a period of ten days to build a permanent
musical play station for the playground out of recycled
materials to raise environmental awareness within the
school.
Jackie
Wilson, Principal
Manchester Elementary-Middle School
80 Memorial Avenue
Manchester Center, VT 05255
802-362-1597
jwilson@manchesterschools.org
www.manchesterschools.org
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Manchester
Health Services
Manchester Health Services, a non-profit Medicare and
Medicaid certified home health agency, provides home care
services, including nursing, home health aide/homemaker,
and physical, occupational, and speech therapy, to patients
in Manchester, Arlington, Sandgate, and Sunderland.
The
Stratton Foundation contributed funds to help purchase
an adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) manikin,
a DVD player, and the instructor’s package for Basic
Life Support for Health Care Providers and for Family
and Friends, which is for community responders. A staff
of twenty-eight will receive training.
“We
are most appreciative and grateful for all the wonderful
things made possible by the Stratton Foundation.”
Barbara Keough, Fall, 2007
Barbara
Keough, Executive Director
Manchester Health Services
P.O. Box 1224
Manchester Center, VT 05255
802-362-2126
mhsinc@saver.net
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Mountain
School at Winhall
The Mountain School at Winhall is a pre-kindergarten through
8th grade state approved independent school serving students
from Londonderry, Jamaica, Winhall, Stratton and neighboring
communities in the areas of academics, arts, and athletics.
The
Stratton Foundation provided funding for “The Holocaust
Project,” a social and emotional development project,
integrated with both historical and modern occurrences,
aimed at teaching students and families the importance
of acceptance, diversity and tolerance. The project will
serve sixty-four Pre-K-8 students, 15 staff members, and
forty-four school families.
“The
Mountain School wishes to thank you for accepting our
grant proposal for the Holocaust Project. As an educational
institution, we know the importance of educating others
about celebrating differences and diversity. We believe
that the Holocaust – while one of the greatest travesties
of history – can serve as a learning tool for future
generations.” Daren Houck, November 15, 2007
Daren
Houck, Head of School
The Mountain School at Winhall
9 School Street
Bondville, VT 05340
http://www.themountainschool.org
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Mountain
Valley Medical Clinic
The Mountain Valley Medical Clinic is a full-service rural
health care facility serving a 9-town area of southeastern
Vermont for thirty years.
The
Stratton Foundation made a contribution that enabled the
clinic to purchase two new examination lights for the
examination room and one pulse oximeter for the nursing
department. The clinic treats over thirteen thousand patients
every year.
“Your
continued support enables us to provide health care of
the highest quality to you, your friends, and neighbors.
We are most grateful for this special help!”
Warren Fuller, Treasurer
Robert
Litchfield, Administrator
Mountain Valley Medical Clinic
P.O. Box 310
Londonderry, VT 05148
802-824-6901
rob@ourclinic.org
http://www.ourclinic.org
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Opera
Theater of Weston
The Opera Theater of Weston is a non-profit organization
devoted to bringing professional quality opera performances
and outreach programs to school children and family audiences
throughout Vermont.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to assist with bringing
three projects to the community. The first, Opera for
Kids and with Kids – an annual outreach school production.
The second, Storybook Opera Project, and educational touring
program. The third, the Young Apprentice Training Program
offers sixteen serious and talented young singers the
opportunity to learn their craft by engaging with a professional
team in a professional production.
“We
are very grateful to the Stratton Foundation for helping
to bring opera to Vermont’s school children and
family audiences.” Lise Messier and Nan Nall,
December 24, 2007
Nan
Nall, President
Opera Theater of Weston
100 Dale Road
Weston, VT 05161
802-824-3821
otw@sover.net
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Stratton
Mountain Volunteer Fire Company
The Volunteer Fire Company is the first response to fire,
vehicle accident, dangerous gas, hazardous substance spills,
DART landing zone security, and other emergencies.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant so the department could
purchase a hose strangler/clamp, a forcible entry bar,
a sledgehammer, and 100 foot 4” fire hose.
The
company serves Stratton Mountain and the surrounding towns.
John
Waite, President
Matt Underwood, Chief
Stratton Mountain Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
5 Brazier’s Way
Stratton Mountain, VT 05155
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Sunderland
Elementary School
Sunderland Elementary School is a public elementary school.
In 2007, Sunderland began to incorporate an arts program,
including a theater department and musical performance.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to help purchase equipment
and supplies for the arts program, including microphones,
lighting, stage equipment, and musical instruments (violins
and brass instruments). Approximately fifty students along
with the entire Sunderland Elementary School faculty,
staff, family members and members of the surrounding area
will benefit. Over 90% of the students are enrolled in
the theater and musical arts program, demonstrating the
hunger for the arts within the Sunderland community.
Front Page News! - We were pleased to read about the success of the spring 2008 play, Willy Wonka Jr.. It is exciting to see young students take such good advantage of the opportunities in the arts at Sunderland Elementary and to know that the program has benefitted in part because of our support. "You might not think it is possible for an elementary school with only
49 students to pull off a full-length musical production. But at Sunderland Elementary
School, despite the school's size, the spring musical has become a staple of the
extracurricular offerings under the direction of second-year principal turned director, Paul
Schreiber, who is leaving Sunderland at the end of the year. Read more.
Paul
Schreiber, Principal
Sunderland Elementary School
98 Bear Ridge Road
Arlington, VT 05250
802-375-6100
pschreiber@sunderlandschool.com
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The
Collaborative
The Collaborative promotes the development of a healthy,
involved community supporting substance free youth in
a caring environment.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant for the purpose of supporting
a “Healthy Alternatives Fair” at the Long
Trail School in January or February 2008. The fair will
promote natural highs such as yoga and Tae Kwon Do as
alternatives to substance use.
Jennifer
Flannery, Director
The Collaborative
P.O. Box 32
South Londonderry, VT 05155
802-824-4200
fbcc@sover.net
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The
Winged Arts Studio at the Maple Street School
The Winged Arts Studio, in its tenth year, provides two
weeks of studio arts instruction for area children, ages
7-12. Part of the mission is to make this program accessible
to all interested young artists, regardless of their family’s
ability to pay. The program works as an outreach to the
Northshire public schools. The Stratton Foundation made
a grant to assist with the scholarship assistance for
2007 and again for 2008.
“We
are thrilled to be recipients of a McCarty Grant. Each
year, through the generous support of the Stratton Foundation,
we have been able to admit children regardless of their
financial situation. Your support enables us to continue
our devotion to our founding mission: instilling in our
students the joy of learning so students may know the
satisfaction of attaining knowledge and understanding.”
Mary Bisselle, November 19, 2007.
Fran
Bisselle, Head of School
Maple Street School
322 Maple Street School
Manchester Center, VT 05255
fbisselle@maplestreetschool.com
http://www.maplestreetschool.com
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Townshend
School Club
The parent volunteers of the Townshend Elementary School
Club organize and fund enrichment activities that round
out the school’s curriculum and increase awareness
and participation in physical activity.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to assist in replacing
and repairing badly deteriorating playground equipment.
Nearly 100 students from the Townshend, Grafton, Jamaica,
Bondville, and Newfane will enjoy the repairs and upgrades
to the playground.
Siobhan
Eddy Young, Parent Volunteer
Townshend School Club
P.O. Box 236
Townshend, VT 05353
802-365-7506
dleggott@fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us
http://www.townshend.windham.vt.us/
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United
Counseling Service
UCS serves people of all ages with nationally recognized
counseling, early care and education, and clinical support
that changes lives. UCS provides the only comprehensive
mental health services and crisis support for the Northshire.
The
Stratton Foundation provided a grant to purchase video
resources and reading material to improve recovery and
mental health among two target groups; substance abusers
and mental health outpatient clinics. UCS serves approximately
40 outpatient clients and individuals with substance abuse
problems.
“I
want to thank you and the Stratton Foundation for granting
Northshire UCS the funds to expand its ‘Stratton
Library’ to serve more people who come to UCS for
help. I became acquainted with the Foundation through
Barbara McCarty and greatly value the work you do –
not just for UCS, but for the benefit of the community.”
Robert Pini, November 19, 2007
Press Release - May 2008 The Stratton Foundation has helped boost recovery from mental illness and addiction through a grant to United Counseling service (UCS) that helps reinforce healthy behavior. The grant provides a significant addition to the lending library of books, CDs, and DVDs available at UCS to enhance counseling, reinforce personal changes, and help speed recovery. "People cannot easily get these materials otherwise, but they can be very helpful tools in aiding recovery and personal growth," according to Northshire UCS Director Peg Gregory. More
Peg
Gregory, Director Northshire UCS
Robert Pini, Community Relations Director
United Counseling Service
5312 Main Street
Manchester Center, VT 05255
362-3950
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Valley
Cares
Valley Cares is an independent 501 ( c ) 3 organization
whose mission is to created and provide a continuum of
quality affordable housing and supportive services for
residents of the West River Valley and beyond. Valley
Cares provides housing, meals, and assistance with medication
and dialing living activities for thirty residents and
an additional fifty to sixty community residents who take
part in the strong living exercise program and free health
clinic on a daily basis.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant to assist in the purchase
of basic equipment for assessment and emergency response
in their newly constructed assisted living building. The
equipment includes a blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter,
an otoscope, and an AED.
Bob
Crego, Executive Director
Valley Cares
P.O. Box 341
Townshend, VT 05353
802-365-4115
bob@valleycares.org
http://www.valleycares.org/
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Vermont
Institute of Natural Science
The mission of VINS is to protect the natural heritage
of Vermont through research and education designed to
engage individuals and communities in the active care
of their environment.
The
Stratton Foundation made a grant so that up to 40 Manchester-area
K-6 school teachers could participate in VINS’ “Science
Fridays” Teacher Professional Development Workshops.
VINS environmental science training modules provide teachers
with models for science teaching methods, lesson adaptation,
topic integration, hands-on demonstrations and lectures,
as well as field research and data analysis at appropriate
developmental stages.
Teresa
Mitchell, Education Director
Vermont Institute of Natural Science
P.O. Box 1281
Quechee, VT 05059
802-359-59001 Ext. 236
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Vermont
Reading Partner
A VRP School Program second grade student
working with tool box supplies provided by a McCarty
Grant, Fall, 2007. |
The
Vermont Reading Partners uses volunteers to provide free
and confidential tutoring services that will enable adults
and families to achieve personal goals through increased
literacy skills.
The Stratton Foundation contributed funds to assist in
the purchase of materials for instructors to create hands-on
activities for school program students. This enables tutors
to create fun, inventive, and exciting games and projects
that require literary skills while being different from
regular classroom work.
“Vermont
Reading Partners is so fortunate to be part of the community
of non-profits who have access to the Stratton Foundation,
whose mission is to help non-profit organizations help
others.” June Gutbier
June
Gutbier, Program Coordinator
Vermont Reading Partners
P.O. Box 72
Manchester, VT 05254
Vrp2323@sover.net
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Weston
Volunteer Fire Department
The Weston Volunteer Fire Department provides fire protection
for the Town of Weston and supports mutual aid for the
Tri-Mountain and Connecticut River Valley Association.
We
made a grant to help purchase a hose for a fire engine.
Over 2,500 residents in Weston and the surrounding towns
benefit.
David Griswold, Chief
Weston Volunteer Fire Department
P.O. Box 52
Weston, VT 05162
802-824-5982
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